1

If I was gonna do something like that, I'd start by reading all the posts in this branch that deal with that subject, (there's probably hundreds) especially the FAQ's. Then, with some knowledge of the problems and a basic idea of how I wanted to proceed, I'd do as much research online as possible before posting very specific questions in this forum. And I'd try to do all those things when I was sober.

Do you really not know the meaning of "Road Trip"?

2

I'd be sure to know what time of year I planned to travel.

I'd use 11 days to revisit two of my favorite areas enroute, Glacier National Park, MT for 4 days and Custer, SD area for 6 days(3 National Scenic highways - take them between places - as well as Mount Rushmore - 1 day, Custer State Park - 2 days, Badlands National Park - 2 days as you depart), and somewhere I've not been - Niagra Falls -1 day. Route Map here

55 hours of driving, more than 3300 miles, will eat up the remaining available 10 days of time.

Road Trip is anytime we hop in the car/minivan to go somewhere new -- including 30-minutes away to a part of the city we've not visited before -- OR any destination for fun that involves highway/freeway driving.

3

You need to decide what highlights you want to see -- wildlife, mountains, lakes, museums, cities, restaurants, shops, etc. My most recent cross-country trip included Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, then I drove north in Montana and crossed the border into Canada, then drove the Trans-Canada Highway #1 east, through wildlands and cities and alongside the Great Lakes to Quebec City, then turned south into Maine and followed the coastline to Boston and Cape Cod.

4

This would be my guide and answer to all your questions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Road

5

I'd pick out a very few, perhaps three, highlights that I really wanted to see and navigate from one to the next. I'd avoid the Interstate highways absolutely and restrict myself to the two-lanes. Each day, I'd generally aim toward the next highlight on the route but I wouldn't be at all particular about the route and I'd allow much more time than needed to get there: if something was a day away, I might take three or four days to get there or might take a day and a half.

I'd investigate interesting places and take side trips on the spur of the moment. I enjoy flipping a coin at a crossroads to decide which road I should take. I'd stop at every roadside historical sign and point of interest.

I've done road trips like this and they're a great, relaxed way to see places, especially fascinating place that you stumble upon and you wouldn't hear about any other way. At times I've gone hundreds of miles out of the way to avoid a single mile of Interstate. You've got the time to have a wonderful trip; enjoy it.

6

How many people? Friends or family? What's your budget?
Weather is most important. Witness the storms in midwest. Too much snow in Winter on east coast. Go in Fall. Dont drive around NYC BTW.

7

Thinking about doing a shorter road trip first to test it out, probably in May, for a maximum of 2 weeks (14 days)

Departing from Vancouver, Canada

Would like to pass through,

Seattle
Portland
San Francisco (1 night)
LA (2 night)
Las Vegas (2 nights)
Grand Canyon
Phoenix (1 night)
Tucson
San Antonio
Houston (1 night)
New Orleans (2 nights)

Fly back to Vancouver from New Orleans

Does this seem reasonable? Forgive me if I sound like I don't know what I am doing, first time planning a road trip, and am completely lost.

Would be renting a car somewhere, staying in cheap motels, eating supermarket food, cheap fast food, occasional restaurant.

Any idea of a rough guesstimate of a budget for one person doing this? I'd be going with one or two friends, if that matters.

8

#7/OP - That's an unworkable plan. Do your trial-run to Portland, OR and back instead. You'll learn a lot more at far smaller cost to yourself.

You need to do your own homework on costs -- $40/day for food, 100/day for hotel (split among you), car rental - depends on your age & whether you make it a circle tour, gasoline $4/gallon & most cars average 25 miles per gallon -- do the math when you've selected a destination much closer than New Orleans

a) How old are you? If you're under 25 car-rental will have a large surcharge. Under 21 will have trouble renting hotel/motel rooms

b) Renting in Canada, drop off in New Orleans will have a large surcharge.

c) Use Google Maps to get driving time between your destinations.

Edited by: Midwesterner

9

Okay thanks everyone. Looks like I have a lot of homework to do. It was only an idea I came up with so I thought I'd post it on here to see what kind of ideas I get.

Thanks!

10

Dude! Have you looked at a map? :)
Your 'shorter' trip actually requires more driving!
Trip #7 is not my idea of a 'Road Trip;' it's more of a driving endurance test.

Three weeks cross country is reasonable.
As others have suggested, I'd do a NP tour, visiting Glacier, Yellowstone / Teton, make a big 'U' to visit a few of the Utah parks and Colorado Rockies before veering back NE to S. Dakota and the northern Plains, Wisconsin / Michigan / Great Lakes, N. NY state, Vt./ NH, and on to MA.

Be SURE to plan a few two day stays en-route. This will get you out of the car and allow you to properly relax and enjoy the scenery.

What time of year?

Tree Hugger or Bar Hopper?

If $ is tight, you can always pitch a tent on most Nat. Forest land. IMO, this sort of 'primitive' camping is one of the joys of the Great Outdoors! You could alternate between a motel (hot showers!) and tent without feeling too Neandertal. :)

Sounds fun!